Mr Richard Seyram Nyavi has been elected Presiding Member of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly for a fresh two-year term after securing overwhelming endorsement from Assembly Members.
Mr Nyavi, who ran unopposed, obtained 51 “Yes” votes, four “No” votes, and three abstentions. The Ketu South Municipal Assembly has 59 members, including the Member of Parliament, who has no voting rights.
Prior to voting, officials of the Electoral Commission informed members that four Assembly Members had applied to vote by proxy.
Mr Nyavi replaces Mr Richmond Hato, a government appointee under the previous NPP administration. He had earlier served for 10 months after receiving popular acclamation from Assembly Members.
The latest election marks the beginning of his substantive two-year mandate as Presiding Member of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Nyavi pledged to offer steady and focused leadership to advance the Municipality’s development agenda.
“I promise to be the steady rudder that keeps us on course, ensuring that even when the waters of debate get choppy, our ship remains pointed towards the choice of progress,” he said.
He urged members to unite around a shared vision to strengthen local governance and ensure effective representation for their electorates.
“Without your dedication, local governance is nothing more than a ghost ship—impressive in stature but hollow in spirit. You are the primary stakeholders of our decentralisation; if the roots of a tree are weak, the branches cannot bear fruit,” he noted.
Mr Nyavi also appealed to the management of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly to regard Assembly Members as partners in development rather than obstacles.
“They walk the streets the technocrats may never visit; they hear the heartbeat of the people every single day,” he said.
Mr Nyavi, a teacher at Keta Senior High School, is widely regarded as a committed community leader with experience in local governance and community development.
He has served as Assembly Member for the Viepe Electoral Area and is known for his strong communication skills, commitment to transparency and teamwork, and dedication to public service.